A Floresville native, Rick Sr., 48, lost his right leg in a drive-by shooting on the West Side in 1985. He lost more than six pints of blood and almost died, spending 21/2 months in ICU.

The outgoing pair run the Team Morones gym on the Southwest Side — after moving the operation from Floresville — that is home to eight pros and a handful of amateurs.

The doors stay open as a welcoming gesture and way to provide ventilation.

“We don't have any fans,” said Rick Jr., a former high school baseball standout at South San and McCollum who boxed briefly as an amateur before becoming a trainer. “If you work out here, you're going to get in shape.”

Benjamin Whitaker is proof of that. The 29-year-old junior middleweight, 4-0 with two knockouts, generally is considered one of the city's top prospects.

His brother, Quinton, 33, is 9-11 with five knockouts, also at junior middleweight. Both are trained by Morones.

“Technique-wise, he's really helped me improve a lot,” Benjamin Whitaker said. “He's here every day at all hours, putting in the work. To be your trainer, you want somebody who is motivated and ambitious.”

Whitaker seems to have found the right man in Morones, who has made it a point to rub elbows with all the big-name fighters and trainers who have come through the Alamo City in recent years.

He's become good friends with Austin Trout, who fought Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in front of 40,000 fans in April at the Alamodome. During fight week, Trout trained at Morones' gym.

Others who have worked out there include Nonito Donaire, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. and Hector Camacho Jr.

Morones admits such associations with the stars are good for his career but says they're also a good way to learn.

“I like to talk boxing with just about anyone,” he said. “You can never stop learning in this sport.”